Unless the context indicates that a different meaning is intended, the
following words and phrases shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the
meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section:
CERTIFICATE
The certificate of public convenience and necessity granted by the
Taxicab Commission to persons in the business of operating taxicabs, as provided
in this chapter.
DRIVER
Any person driving a taxicab.
OWNER
Any person having control of the operation or maintenance of a taxicab
or of the collection of revenue derived from its operation.
TAXICAB
Any motor vehicle used for the transportation for hire or reward
of passengers and baggage upon the streets of the City, other than busses
being operated under franchise and over fixed routes between fixed termini.
Taxicabs operated pursuant to this chapter shall at all times be kept
clean and sanitary and in a safe physical condition to the satisfaction of
the Chief of Police.
Every taxicab for which a certificate is issued pursuant to the provisions of §§
370-14 to
370-25 shall have the name of the owner thereof or firm name painted on the outside of the vehicle on both sides thereof in letters not less than two inches high. Signs attached to the vehicle and bearing the requisite information, whether removable or not, shall not be deemed compliance with this section.
No taxicab shall be operated on the streets of the City unless the owner
and driver thereof are protected by liability insurance issued by a company
authorized to do business in the state. Such policy shall be in the sum of
at least $100,000 for injury to one person, $300,000 for one accident, and
$25,000 property damage. Satisfactory evidence shall be filed with the City
Manager showing that such insurance is in effect.
Every accident in which any taxicab operated pursuant to this chapter
is involved shall be immediately reported to the Police Department.
The owner of any taxicab operated pursuant to this chapter shall provide
and maintain at all times a listed telephone by which calls for service can
be made.
The City Manager may designate and assign stands for taxicabs or may
require owners of taxicabs to furnish off-street stands.
No nonpaying passenger shall be transported in a taxicab operated pursuant
to this chapter with a paying passenger, except bona fide officers or employees
of the owner or a police officer engaged in the performance of his duty unable
to obtain other adequate means of transportation.
No driver of any taxicab operated pursuant to this chapter shall carry
in such taxicab at any one time more passengers than the number which the
vehicle was built to carry normally.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of a taxicab operated pursuant to
this chapter to fail or refuse to complete an accepted call in the absence
of a satisfactory reason.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or permit or cause to
be operated any taxicab within the City except in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter.
Any violation of this chapter shall be punished as provided in Chapter
1, §
1-6 of this Code.